Can You Freeze Swede – Here’s How Do You Freeze Swede?

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Can You Freeze Swede: Swede is one of those veggies that you either buy too much or too less. When you do buy a lot and have leftovers, what are you going to do with them? No, don’t even think of letting it go to the trash when you can freeze them and use them for months.

Freezing swede is as easy as it gets for everyone. You could blanch or dice them and put them in the freezer for months.

Hence, if you are looking for easy ways to store your swede, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss everything related to freezing and storing swede with utmost convenience. Hence, let’s get into the content without wasting any time.

Can You Freeze Swede

Can You Freeze Swede?

Yes, swede can be kept frozen for more than 10 months. The swede, which has orange flesh with a sweet earthy flavor and purple and green skin, is a member of the cabbage family. Other names for it include Russian Turnip, Swedish Turnip, Neeps, and Rutabaga in the States.

Swede does not freeze well when it is raw, as do the majority of raw vegetables. When you finally use it, you’ll have ruined the texture, flavor, and appearance. Swede should instead be briefly blanched in hot water before being wrapped in plastic and frozen.

When stored straight out of the garden, swede is very likely to stay for a few weeks. However, the blanching process makes it easier to store in airtight places without molding.

How To Freeze Swede?

Swedes can be frozen in various ways depending on how long you like to store them. You could either branch the sweet or put it right into the freezer after dying it precisely. However, like many other vegetables, blanching helps Swede to stay in the freezer for a long time.

The high moisture content of swede is a risk factor while freezing them. Nonetheless, you can freeze swede in the right way using the right directions. Follow the procedure mentioned below to achieve the best freezing technique for swede.

Methods For Freezing Swede

The methods for freezing swede depending on the variety are given in the below modules. Follow the process over here to freeze the swede of your choice.

Freeze Raw Swede 

The best technique frequently relies on how you want to utilize the swede in the future.

  • Simply take your swede and cut it into 3 cm chunks if you intend to use it in soup.
  • At this point, make sure to cut off any shriveled or broken swede parts.
  • The swede doesn’t need to be blanched because you’re planning to use it in soup and the texture will be altered nonetheless.
  • Thus, just take the pieces and place them in a freezer-safe container.
  • Place the container in the freezer after adding a label and date.

For Cooked Swede 

  • You should start by heating the swede as usual if you intend to use it as a mash, as a side dish for roast meals, or as a dish for weaning newborns.
  • Afterward, crush the swede. For added flavor and texture, some people like to add carrots.
  • Transfer the prepared dish to a freezer-safe container after it has been cooked, mashed, and cooled.
  • Then just label the container with the item and the date and place it in the freezer.

How Long Can You Freeze Swede?

For nine to twelve months, swede can be frozen. Swede that has been roasted, mashed, or otherwise prepared would only keep for about three months in the freezer. Swedes should be used up as quickly as possible because, like other veggies, their quality will decrease the longer it is kept in the freezer.

Keep the swede well-protected against exposure to air and freezer burns to ensure that it keeps fresh for a longer period. This is the reason for freezing them in airtight places.

If you want to know about similar vegetable turnips and their freezing process refer to the quick guide on Can You Freeze Turnips and clear all your ambiguities.

Does Swede Freeze Well?

As mentioned earlier, raw swede does not freeze well due to its high moisture content. Like most greens and herbs, swede only lasts for 3 to 4 weeks when it is freshly frozen. This turnip-like vegetable is extremely high in water content, making molding easier on the surface.

Due to this reason, swede is often suggested to be frozen using the blanching process. Not only does this make storage convenient, but also makes it last for a long time. Dicing also is a good option but isn’t as great as blanching.

Tips For Freezing Swede

The tips to freeze Swede well are mentioned beneath. follow them and freeze your swede without losing its quality.

  • Blanching: Swede stays for the longest time when it is blanched and frozen. You keep the frozen swedes for 9 to 12 months if not less.
  • Airtight containers: Like any other item or food, freeze your swedes in airtight containers to escape any moisture. If you don’t have airtight containers use ziplock freezer bags.
  • Don’t over-freeze: With excess freezing, swedes will eventually lose their texture, taste and deteriorate badly.

Can You Freeze Raw Swede?

Yes, you can freeze raw swede but it wouldn’t last long. Swede has a great moisture content in them making them vulnerable to molding. Hence, it is better not to freeze raw swede directly.

What you can do is blanch them well before using any other method. Blanching will reduce the chance of rotting down and keep the swede edible for more than 10 months.

How To Store Frozen Swede?

Any freezer-safe airtight container or Ziploc bag is suitable for storing frozen swede. Swedes that have been roasted or cooked can also be kept in storage by being double-wrapped in foil paper and cling film.

The swede must be kept properly covered to prevent air exposure, though. A Ziploc bag would be the ideal choice if you are short on freezer space. Even if you have a large batch to work with, the Ziploc bags let you store this bulky content efficiently.

How Long Does Swede Last In The Freezer?

Swedes last long when kept in the freezer after blanching. If you boil the veggie, the whole thing will sit in the freezer for 9 to 12 months if not less. However, over-freezing the swede might result in poor texture and overall appeal.

All in all, freezing is the best option for using your extra swede for many months to come. Besides freezing, you can also keep raw swede in the refrigerator because freezing raw swede without blanching is not advisable. Through refrigeration, your swedes will last up to a few weeks.

How To Defrost Swede?

The swede can be reheated in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven. Removing the swede from the freezer the day before and letting it thaw in the fridge for the duration of the night is the ideal preparation method. Giving it more time to cook will allow you to reheat it from frozen.

I would reheat the swede according to the original preparation method. In the microwave, I would reheat mashed swedes for two to three minutes on high power.

After being frozen, mashed potatoes can become a little watery, but I’ve discovered that zapping them in the microwave helps some of the water evaporate. Additionally, you could find that more butter or salt is required.

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Can You Refreeze Swede?

Although it is possible, it is advisable to avoid refreezing the swede once it has thawed. The texture of the swede may slightly alter, and continued freezing and thawing will only make it worse.

It is advisable not to refreeze the swede unless and until it was returned to the freezer before it was thawed and was not left out for an extended period.

You can portion the swede ahead of time into serving sizes that are simple to handle in one sitting to prevent having to refreeze or waste it once it thaws. Alternatively, you can quickly freeze the swede pieces so that they are still loose, allowing you to thaw only the amount you need.

FAQs on Freezing Swede

1. Can you freeze Swede without blanching? 

Yes, you can freeze swede without blanching but that is not advisable. Raw Swede does not freeze well like any other vegetable. Hence, blanching is a must for vegetables like Swedes.

2. Is frozen Swede as good as fresh?

Frozenswede can be used in many dishes just like fresh ones. However, with freezing, the texture and taste of the swedes often degrade. Hence, consuming vegetables beforehand is advisable.

3. Can you freeze mashed swede?

Yes, mashed and cooked Swedes can be easily frozen for a good amount of time. After it has cooled, divide it into bags, seal them, and freeze them. It must be completely defrosted before use, and it must be warmed slowly in a pan.

Key Takeaways

Swedes are much like turnips in some sort. But this vegetable freezes better and stays longer. Firstly, raw Swedes shouldn’t be frozen without blanching considering their high moisture content. Secondly, these frozen veggies often decorate when frozen over time.

Keep all of this in mind, hopefully, this article has cleared your conceptions about frozen Swedes. If you want more frozen food content, we have got you. Visit our website to see related content like Can You Freeze Sweet Potatoes and many more.

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